A-B-C Frugality

Couponing 101: The Bare Basics

Congratulations! If you have found this blog and are reading this post now, you are already taking a step in the right direction towards saving your family hundreds of dollars off your grocery bill each month.  This series will give you the basic and not-so-basic information about couponing; new or experienced couponers alike can read on for helpful tips, tricks and hints to help you get the most bang for your couponing buck!

Step One:  Begin your Coupon Collection

Where to Locate Coupons? There are a variety of places you can locate coupons:

• The Sunday Paper: This will be a key source of coupons for your collection.  Although it varies by the week, the paper often has anywhere from 1-5 Free Standing Inserts (FSI), which are made by the companies Smart Source (SS), Red Plum (RP) and Procter & Gamble (P&G).  It is recommended to buy one paper for each person in your family; ask your friends and neighbors to save coupons for you, too.  And check your local recycling center—they may allow you to go pull the extra inserts out of discarded papers.
• Internet Printables: Coupons.com, SmartSource.com, Redplum.com to name a few.  Many coupons are also available directly from the manufacturer’s website.  Subscribe to a good deal blog like ours, and we’ll keep you updated when the latest coupons are released.
• Cash Register Tape: Check that receipt! Many stores like CVS, Walgreens, Target and even Kroger often print out coupons on your receipt. Also, many companies have a survey offer at the bottom of your receipt that could earn you 10-20% off your next purchase or a chance to win a sweepstakes.
• Mailing Lists: Try to sign up for promotions and/or mailing lists from your favorite companies and chances are good you’ll get coupons in the mail.
• Free Samples: Along with stretching your household budget, these little goodies often come with high value coupons.
• Magazines: Scan  your magazines for small inserts or in-ad coupons.  Note:  It is usually NOT worth the price to buy a magazine just in hopes of coupons, unless the magazine is All You. This magazine available exclusively at WalMart is just around $2.50 and has between $95-150 of coupons each month. Definitley worth purchasing.
• Blinkies and Tearpads: As you do your shopping, keep your eyes peeled. Many stores have either tearpads of coupons for the taking (usually around eye level) or blinking machines with coupons available for you.  Please be responsible, though, and don’t steal the tearpad or clean out the coupon machine.  Take what you will use but leave the rest for other couponers.
• Packaging: Manufacturers often have coupons inside the boxes, either loose or printed into the packaging.  Keep your eyes open.
• Junk Mail: Just the other day I found Gillette Fusion coupons in the Junk Mail that I usually throw away. * BONUS TIP* If you get junkmail on white or colored 8.5 x 11” paper with an ad printed on one side, flip it over and use it to print an internet coupon or two!
• Coupon Booklets at Grocery Stores: Many times there will be a display set up with coupon booklets free for the taking at your local grocery store.  Recently, Kellogg’s had some great Back to School coupon booklets out, and Walgreens almost always has one or two coupon booklets available.
  

If you continue to coupon for long enough, you will develop a radar-type sixth-sense for finding coupons, trust me!